With all the lenders out there, how do you know which one to use for your home loan mortgage? Does it even really matter? What are the points you should consider when comparing lenders, and how do make sure the lender is legitimate? This article suggests that who you choose as your lender IS important, and presents some key factors to consider when comparing mortgage lenders.

First, why is it important to choose your lender wisely? The primary reason, is of course, cost. When you take out a mortgage, you are incurring a significant monthly payment and creating a large debt load. Therefore, you'll want to look closely at a loan's cost. In considering cost, you'll need to look at more than just the interest rate. What additional fees are there and how much are they? For example, there could be a loan origination fee, underwriting fees, an appraisal fee, etc. These are taken into account and combined with the interest rate to come up with the Annual Percentage Rate, or APR. Hence, the APR is the most important number to look at.

If closing a loan within a certain amount of time is important to you, be sure to find out the lenders' turn times. While one lender may take two weeks or more to fund a loan, another lender may be able to do it in less than five days.

Convenience may also determine which lender you choose. Will you have to mail documents or can you simply upload them through the Internet? Do you have to discuss your financial situation with someone over the phone, or will the lender's system help you choose the best loan. Will you have to drive somewhere to close the loan, or will the lender send a notary to your home or office?

Once you've narrowed down your list of potential lenders, you may want to verify that the company is licensed or registered with your state by checking with your state government. Often this can be done online through the state's website. One of the first places you might look on the website is the area for the Banking or Financial Institutions division or agency. You can also go the Contact Us page to find a way to contact Customer Support.

You may also want to verify the lender's business license in the state where its corporate headquarters are located. This too should be possible online.

In summary, here are the points to consider when picking an online lender: Pricing (remember to look at APR), speed, convenience, and legitimacy. Purchasing or refinancing a home is a significant decision. Be sure to consider these points as you make it!